Tornado touchdowns are near record levels in the USA as summer is about to get underway and more twisters for the remainder of the season are set to top new highs.

So far this year twisters have already outnumbered last year and are 106% above normal levels and a hot and sticky summer is likely to see a few more develop.

Here are the statistics to date…

           Actual Count       10-Yr Average      Departure from Average
Jan          16                                     22                      -32%
Feb          61                                     32                     +91% 
Mar          75                                     83                     -10%  
Apr        762                                   163                  +367% 
May       332                                   298                   + 11%

2011    1262                                  614                   + 106% 

Stats from TWC

Photo from AP